Reversible wrench



W. H. BURSTALL AND J. S. TURNER.

REVERSIBLE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 192].

1,417,969, Patented May 30, 1922.

72' 5 J INVENTO William 13135; lZmesS rife z;

By M

U lll it T l PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BURSTALL AND JAIVIIEFS S. TURNER, OF OXNARD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS OF TWO-THIRDS TO SAID BUBSIALL AND ONE-THIRD TO SAIDTURNER.

REVERSIIBLE XVRENCH.

Application filed February 7, 1921.

To all 10 7mm it niag concern Be it known that we, lVILLmMH. Boa STALL and Jarrns S. TURNER, both citizens of the United States, residing at Oxnard, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in Reversible renches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to wrenches capable of operating the work in reverse action or in opposite directions, and further in particular for so operating work of curved, rounded or cylindrical formation, such as pipe, couplings, tubing, or oil well tubing and casing. The invention is particularly adapted, in practice, for the screwing together of lengths of pipe, tubing or casing, of cylindrical. form or applying thereto or connecting therewith unions, joints, collars, or other couplings.

We are aware of the fact that wrenches have been devised and arein use capable of operating such work, but the same require reapplication to the work in case a reverse operation is to be performed. Such wrenches ordinarily include a chain or other girdle or encircling flexible element which is passed about the work, and a wrench head or body cooperating therewith and acting directly upon the work to impinge or bite upon the same and turn or operate the same. Other such wrenches are made with a plurality of flexibly connected or pivotally connected members which are passed about thework and joined together at their end portions by a chain or other girdle or flexible device. All. of these devices can only produce an operation or turning movement in one direction unless reapplied to the work for reverse operation.

In accordance with the present invention, a wrench, or, it might be designated, tongs, is or are provided which includes elements adapted to be presented to the work for opposite operation or turning thereof, in combination with a flexible element or girdle which operates to cinch the work and hold it in tight embrace during the turning move ment or operation, and during the turning movement or operation in either direction.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Serial No. 443,244.

These elements impinge or bite upon the work. one forturning in one direction and one for turning in the other, andthe flexible element which cooperates with them acts equally and with like positiveness to firmly embrace the wor and hold it so as to prevent the slipping of whichever impinging or biting element is in employment. While these two impinging elements may be en tirely separate, they are preferably integrally united, The flexible element, in accordance with the particular nature of the wrench, may be connected with the handle of the wrench in various manners, but where the impinging elements are integrally connected together and integrally connected with the handle as may be preferable, such flexible element is preferably connected with the handle through the agency of a pivoted or tilted member carried by the handle. This permits ready adaptation of the flexible element to the work in accordance with the operation being performed. and that adaptation accommodates well the reversal of operation of the work.

The invention has for further objects the provision of an improved wrench, or tongs, of the general character stated, which will be relatively superior in point of simplicity,

compactness in form, lightness of weight,

durability and rigidity and freedom from liability to get out of order or require repair. and which will be generally superior in elliciency and general superiority and inexpensiveness of manufacture.

The wrench is of particular advantage and utility for use in tlireadedly connecting together heavy pipe, casing and the like. as it enables the connnencement of the interengagement of the threads to be carefully determined and effected. If the inter-engagement is faulty and the threads become crossed, the threads may become disengaged by a reversing movement of the wrench which avoids any material mutilation of the threads. This crossing of the threads can readily be determined by the feel of the operation. In oil well practice these heavy tubings and casings are ordinarily connected or set up by power. and if the threads become crossed initially a continuation of the setting up operation results in a severe mutilation Or destruction of the threads.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of a novel provision, formation, construction, combination, association, and inter-relation and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing in one embodiment, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating a wrench or device embodying the invention as applied to a coupling joined to lengths of a threaded pipe;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely through a length of pipe and showing the wrench applied to the work with the device in neutral or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a length of pipe with the wrench or device applied thereto and the parts in positions and relations as shown in Figure 1, or incident to rotation of the length of pipe in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3; and

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective fragmentary views of parts and features of the construction of the device.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, we have shown therein a tool or wrench or tongs or analogous device embodying the invention, in one form, but not the only form, the same comprising generally a handle member A which may be of any particular form but which is shown as a substantially straight bar 6, and centrally of such bar are provided two work-engaging elements B and C which are preferably integral with the bar 6, which integral construction may be a forgin These elements B and C are shown as divergently projecting heads 7 and 8,-the inner faces at the outer ends of which are serrated as at 9 so as to present biting or impinging edges extending generally in the longitudinal plane of the heads. D designates a flexible element or girdle which is shown as consisting of a chain 10 and which is loosely passed about the work when the tool is in neutral position, the work being indicated in the drawing in Figure 1 as a coupling or union 11, and indicated in Figures 2 and 3 as a length of pipe 12. The chain 10 serves to hold and cinch the work firmly during the engagement of either element B or C with the work, in accordance with the direction in which the work is to be turned or operated. In the form of construction shown in the drawing we combine or connect or associate the chain with the handle member and the elements B and C" through the agency of a tilting or pivoted member E shown as comprising a bell crank lever 13,

centrally pivoted to the handle member A and preferably comprising spaced side plates or cheeks 18 and 13 which embrace the bar 6 of the handle member A, a pin 14L being passed through an opening 15 in such bar 6, and being headed at the cheeks 13 and 13 this arrangement and combination of parts permitting the member E to rock or tilt in opposite directions. The point at which this pivotal connection of the member E exists is co-incident with a point which the median longitudinalplanes of the heads 7 and S diverge, and the angle of divergence of the cranks of the lever 13 is approximately the same as the angle of divergence of the heads 7 and 8, the divergence of the heads 7 and 8 being in one direction and the divergence of the cranks of the lever 13 being generally in an opposite direction. The heads 7 and 8 and the arms or cranks of the lever 13 all radiate from the pivotal center of the bell crank lever 18. at its pivot pin 14.

The chain 10 is secured at one end, as by an. eye 16, at the outer end of one of the cranks of the lever 13, such eye being prefcrably secured to abushing 17 rotatable about a pin 18 secured to the'cheeks or plates 13 and 13", at the outer end of the respective bell cranks. Such bushing serves as a washer between the said cheeks. The chain is adapted to be applied, detachably, after being passed about the work, to the outer end of the other bell crank, at which other end a bushing 19 is provided between the cheeks at the respective bell crank end, and held rigidly in place between such cheeks by a pin 20 which firmly unites the cheeks together and holds the bushing rigidly in place. I

Projecting from such bushing 19 are spaced furcations 21 between which the chain is passed so that a length thereof is brought to bear against said furcations, as clear y indicated in Figures 1., 2 and 3. It will be understood that this structure of the member E, as pictured and described, is susceptible of wide variations and detail and make-up, all in accordance with preference for adaptation to particular service. Such eye 16 and furcations 21 comprise one means of holding the chain to the member E, and such member E constitutes one means of uniting the chain ultimately with the handle member A. But it Will be readily appreciated and understood that many changes may be made in these respects and various substitutions and alterations made in construction, and that this is likewise true with the worleengaging elements B and C in the particular formation of the handle member.

In operation, that work-engaging element B or C is brought to bear against the work, which will tend to turnor operate the work in pushing engagement, in response to a swing or throw of the handle member;

When this occurs, the member E swings or tilts so that the crank thereot next adjacent to such work-engaging member in employment swings toward the handle member, the other crank swinging away from the handle member. A continuation of the same manipulation of the handle member will ultimately cause a tight cinching ot the chain about the work, and when this results, a further continuation of the handle manipulation will cause the work to be operated or turned. In order to turn or operate the work in the opposite direction, the handle member is manipulated oppositely, the hitherto working element B or C being withdrawn from the work and the other element 13 or C coming into engagement with the work, the member E swinging, or rocking, in the direction the opposite of its previous movement. The chain 10 becomes again tightly cinched about the work, and the wrench or tool becomes again effective to turn or operate the work in the opposite direction. In the drawing, the heads 7 and 8 are shown as disposed for reception and accommodation between the cheeks or frame plates 13 and 13 of the member E, during the rocking movement of such member E. It will be understood that this is only one of various arrangements which may be provided in these respects.

In Figure 1 the parts are so disposed and applied to the work that a pull on the handle member by means of the hand illustrated in such figure, in the direction shown by the arrow, will cause the work to be turned in the same direction. On a reversal of operations the work will be turned in the opposite direction.

It will be noted that the wrench or tool readily adapts itself to operation or rotation of the work in either direction without the requirement of any re-application oi? the de vice to the work, it only being required to reverse the direction oi manipulation of the handle member, whereupon all. the parts and elements adapt and accommodate themselves to the new or reverse movement or operation of the work, and effectually cause such reverse movement or operation without requirement of any attention to or direction of the tool other than the manipulation of the handle member in the required direction.

The many and varied uses which may be made of a wrench of this type and description will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the various arts, and no recital of same here will be required. We wish the invention to be understood as not limited by any particular features of construction, combination' or arrangement of parts, members and'elements, the invention to be construed in accordance with its attributes and general. ope ation and spirit.

Having thus disclosed our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device oi the character described, comprising work-engaging elements adapted to be respectively applied to the work for the turning or operating of the same in different directions, an element adapted to be independently applied to the work to main tain engagement of said first named elements with the work, and a handle member for said elements; said last named element comprising a flexible member adapted to be passed about the work; said handle member being provided with a rocking element with which said flexible member is joined; said rocking element having divergently directed portions with both of which said flexible member is adapted to be connected.

2. A device of the character described, comprising work-engaging elements adapted to be respectively applied to the work for the turning or operating of the same in different directions, an element adapted to be independently applied to the work to maintain engagement of said first named elements with the work, and a handle member for said elements; said handle member being provided with a rocking element, and said workengaging elements comprising divergently directed heads, said rocking element having divergent portions, said heads and said divergent portions of said rocking element projecting radially from the rocking center of said rocking element.

8. A device of the character described, comprising work-engaging elements adapted to be respectively applied to the work for the turning or operating oi the same in dill erent directions, an element ada ed to be independently applied to the work to maintain engagement of said first named elements with the work, and a handle member "for said elements; said handle member being provided with a rocking element having divergent portions and said work engaging elements comprising divergent portions, said heads and said divergent portions of said rocking element projecting radially from the rocking center of said rocking element; said rocking element comprising spaced frame members adapted to accommo' date between them said divergent heads.

l. A device of the character described, comprising a handle, a work-engaging element integrally formed with said handle, a rocking element oined with said handle, and a flexible clement joined with said rocking element.

5. A device of the character described, including work-engaging elements, a rocking element, and an element joined with said rocking element and adapted to be applied to the Work to maintain engagement of seldtaming engagement of said work-engaging element with the work.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BURSTALL.

JAMESYS. TURNER.

W'itnesses:

WV. MARK DURLEY, HELEN R. GRAHAM. 

